A RUINED TRADE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] you allow me to cap your note on Mr. Freynnoth's letter in the Spectator of July 18th on the ruin of the British glass trade, by an anecdote P A German acquaintance of mine, a skilled chemist, used to visit the Midland glassmaking district frequently during the early stages of its ruin by German com- petition. His business was only indirectly concerned with the glass industry, but he had the opportunity of pointing out to the makers that they were being beaten by the superior science and technical skill of the Austrians. They asked him, consequently, to find—a German chemist as adviser to the trade. " One chemist for the whole of the Midland table•
glass trade ! " said my friend indignantly. " He will have enough to do!" As you say, it is science and technical skill that have beaten us there, not Free-trade.—I am, Sir, &c., J. S. M.
[Since writing the note to which this letter refers we have made further inquiries as to the allegation that the glass trade is a ruined industry, and are glad to find that though the glass trade was for a time handicapped by lack of scientific knowledge, those manufacturers of glass who have modernised their methods are well able to hold their own, and that in fact, glass cannot possibly be reckoned as an industry ruined by Free-trade. We must, therefore, begin our search again for an industry that we once possessed but now have not got owing to Free-trade. Can any of our readers supply us with, one P—En. Spectator.]
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